Apparatus and method for determining the moisture content of raisins and the like



THOD FOR DETERMINING THE MOISTURE CONTENT OF RAISINS AND THE LIKE Flled Aug 31 1925 P" 1927' I P. F. NICHOLS APPARATUS AND ME Patented Apr. 5, 1927.

' "mm. 1*. NICHOLS, or rnnsno, crimson-ma, ASSIGNOR TO sun Main RAISIN e ownns or CALIFORNIA, or FRESNO, CALIFORNIA, A. coornnn'rivn ASSOCIATION or CALI- FORNIA.

' APPARATUS AND Mnrrronron DETERMINING THE MOISTURE conrnn'r OF'R-AISINS AND THE LIKE.

7 Application filed August 31, 1925. Serial No; 53,503;

My invention has for its object an apparatus by which the moisture content of raisins or similarfruits, dried or'partially dried, may be readily determined. Y

I have found that under constant atmospheric conditions, a mass of raisins or 511111:

lar semi-dried fruit in'bulk are compressible within relatively wide limits, in proportion to their moisture content, and the apparatus and method of my invention are adapted to employ and exemplify this principle.

Referring to the accompanying drawing my invention will be made clear:

Fig. l is a plan View of an apparatus embodying my invention. 1

F ig, 2 is a side view of the apparatus of Fig. 1-.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line III-III of Fig. 2, illustrating the sliding scale;

Throughout the figures similar numerals refer to identical parts: i A base plate is indicated by the numeral 1, on which is mounted the standard 2, carrying therefrom therigid brackets 8, 4.

Through these brackets loosely. passes the piston rod 5, carrying the piston head 6, freely traveling within the cylinder 7.

At 8 is a table on the upper end of the piston rod 5 and *on this table different weights, one ofwhich is shown at 9, may be placed to exert the desired compression'upon any mass of material tobe compressed as raisins in the cylinder 7.

The standard 2 is preferably arranged with foot members 1O, 11, between which the cylinder 7 may be readily passed and positioned while resting on the base 1. y

A bifurcated arm 12 carrying the pointer 13 on one end and the counter-balance proaccording to the -p'osition. of the hand' lever 22. i

and having a s-sale 25 to 24.

ator to clamp the scale 25in any of its ad usted positlons.

Ifnife edges v or watch spring supports may be substituted for the pivot 15 although I have shown a circular pivot M15 and knife edges at 16, 18 respectively.

The operation is 'as follows: A mass of raisins whose moisture content it'is desired to determine, is placed within the cylinder 7 and passed into position beiow'the piston 6. The hand lever 22 is brought to the full line position shown in Fig. 2, thereby releasing the shoe 20 and At 24 is an uprightstandard preferably r of angle-like form as shown best in" Fig. 3 v

slidable with respect A clamp screw at 26 enables the operthe piston rod 5 and head 6 drop into place resting on the raisins.

The pointer 13 will now occupy a definite position with respect -to the standard 24:,

and the scale 25 is now shifted by the operator until its zero corresponds with the pointer 13. p

The hand lever 22 is now thrown down to the dotted position, clampingthe shoe 2O against the rod 5. A predetermined weight,

indicated at 9 is now placed upon the platform 8, the rod 5 being held by the shoe 20, the pointer will register zero on the scale 25.

With a watch in hand-the operator now releases the lever 22 into the full line position of Fig. 2, thus transferring the action of the weight 9 to the'raisins contained in.

the cylinder 7. r 1

After a predetermined interval, depending on the calibration of the apparatus, the pointer 13 will register a new position on the scale 25 and this position indicates the' percentage of moisture contained in the raisins.

In a preferred form of my apparatus I employ a two pound Weight acting for fifteen seconds.

I prefer to calibrate the scale 25 in percentages of moisture. i I It will now be seen that the moisture content of various samples may be very quickly obtained and I have found that the limits of error by employing my apparatus are well with1n all commercial requirements.

I claim: 7 1. Apparatus for measuring the compres-' s on of a mass of raisins when sulnectedto a predetermined pressure comprising a compartment, means for applying a predetermined pressure on said mass of raisins 7 contained in said compartment, an indicating arm connected to said means and adapted to move along a scale, said scale,

7' which is calibrated to indicate by the lever movement the percentage of compression of i said mass when saidpressure is applied and abase member supporting said compartmentgandsaid scale,"

' Apparatus for-measuring the compresfsionof a mass of raisins when subjected to aipredetermined pressure comprising a comll'p'artment, means forflapplying a predeter- Vmass as thus compressed.

mined pressure on said mass of raisins contamed inisaid compartment, and an ndicat- '7 ing arm connected to said means and adapted to move along a'scale, said scale, which iscalibrated to indicate by the lever movement the percentage of compression of 7 said mass when said pressure is applied, said scale havlng associated means'whereby the scale may be adjusted with respect to said arm and clamped in said adjusted position.

3. The steps in the method of determining the moisturecontent of a mass of raisins which consists in determining the volume of said'mass under normal conditions, and

PAUL F. inc-Hons 

